Oracles

50 TRANSLATIONS FROM BAUDELAIRE Seed of Abel, love and swarm ! So thy gold shall also grow. Seed of Cain, heart over-warm, Guard thy lust and crush it low ! Seed of Abel, grow, well-faring Like the bugs in forest beats ! Seed of Cain, at bay, despairing, Throw thy children on the streets ! II Seed of Abel, carrion Shall make fat the smoking soil. Seed of Cain, on thee has none Laid sufficient woes of toil. Seed of Abel, this thy shame— To the boar-spear yields the sword. Seed of Cain, to heaven flame, And to earth cast Heaven’s Lord ! THE LITANY OF SATAN O thou, of Angels fairest and most wise, God by Fate’s treachery shorn of liturgies ! O Satan, have pity of my long misery ! O Prince of Exile, Sufferer of wrong, Whose vengeance, conquered, rises triply strong ! O Satan, have pity of my long misery !